“Good.” He aimed his million-dollar grin at my friends first before cranking it up to a billion for me.
“It’s easy to cheer for someone who thinks like me.” Chessly nodded at Wyatt’s T-shirt, which read “I don’t argue with idiots. They will only lower me to their level and beat me with experience.” Admittedly, I hadn’t paid much attention to what he was wearing until she pointed it out. A snicker escaped, and he winked at me as he held out his fist to Chess. She fist-bumped him and said, “Good luck this weekend. Go ’Cats.”
“See you Saturday, Piper.”
Before I could sputter a response to what no doubt sounded like a date to my friends, he spun on his heel and headed to the bar where Finn stared openly at our table while he waited for Wyatt.
With my back to the door, I didn’t see them leave, but Saylor made sure I had a play-by-play of Wyatt stopping at a table full of guys who wished Finn and him good luck in the game followed by an older man who wanted to shake their hands, and then the two of them were out the door. I didn’t need her running commentary to know when he walked out because somehow the energy in the room left with him.
Fanning herself, Saylor launched in. “My, my, my, that boy is sex on two legs. Whew! No wonder you spent half an hour in the ‘ladies’ room.’” A wink accompanied her air quotes. “If I’d been making out with him, I doubt I’d have made it back to our table.”
“She’s our ride.” Chess softened her sardonic tone with a grin. “She had to come back to us.”
I retorted with a sniff and downed what was left of my drink. When the server stopped to check on us, I ordered a water and stuffed my face with tepid pizza. None of my antics even slowed my friends down.
“The way his voice dropped when he said, ‘See you Saturday,’” Saylor said. “He has plans for you, girl.” Her laughter filled our booth.
“Did you give the guy your number finally?” Chess asked.
“Why would I do that?” I shrugged. “I know where to find him when I want to see him.”
“Is that why you went along with my venue suggestion so easily tonight? Because you were hoping to run into him?” Not even a hint of innocence colored Chessly’s mischievous expression.
“I went along with your suggestion so you wouldn’t give me a hard time about hooking up with him again when you guys were home for Thanksgiving.” Narrowing my eyes at her, I added, “I was damned if I did and damned if I didn’t. Besides, there was no guarantee he’d even be here.” My brave words rang hollow, especially with the way I had to resituate myself on the bench seat to relieve my still throbbing center.
“You are so transparent, Piper Maxwell. Maybe it’s time you put the two of you out of your misery and give him your number, go on an actual date.” Chessly drained her glass of beer and grinned.
“Bax is way sexier than Charlie, that’s for sure,” Saylor chimed in. “He doesn’t send off weird vibes either. You should give him a chance.”
Making a show of checking my phone, I said, “I have a nine o’clock lab in the morning. If you two are about finished deciding my love life for me, it’s time for me to drive us home.”
The conspiratorial winks my friends exchanged did nothing for my peace of mind, but at least they let the subject drop.
As I thought about it after driving the girls home, I mentally smacked my forehead. Of course our friends couldn’t help but notice our absence when Wyatt and I had left our respective tables. What was I thinking when I followed him down the hallway tonight?
Time had disappeared the second he stepped into my space. That in itself should have been enough to send me screaming for the hills. Then he’d put his hand on the wall above my head, setting a boundary without caging me in, letting me know his intent yet giving me an out before he touched me. That was what drew me to him: his single-minded interest that didn’t crowd me.
When he’d asked again for my number, he hadn’t pushed. Disappointment—and something else—had flashed in his eyes when I’d turned him down, but he hadn’t begged. Charlie had begged, and against my better judgment, I’d given in. His pursuit had flattered me—and look how that had turned out. Wyatt had rocked my world, made it clear I’d reciprocated the experience for him, told me in honest terms what he wanted, and waited for me to decide.
Really, why hadn’t I given him my number already?
Chapter Thirteen
Wyatt
“Damn, son! What’sgot into you? You’re on fire today!” Coach Ainsworth smacked me on the ass as I ran past him toward the bench and downed a slug of Gatorade I desperately needed. “Fuckin’ great work out there.”
“Thanks, Coach.” I tipped my helmet up on my head, squeezed a full container of hydration down my throat, and ran the back of my hand over my mouth as I handed the empty to one of the trainers to refill.
“Holy shit, Bax. ESPN is going to run that sack on their highlights for the next week.” Finn’s grin as we went through our special fist-bump, handshake, high-five ritual rivaled the lights on the scoreboard. “You fuckingdrilledthat QB. His head’s gonna be on a swivel for the rest of the game.”
I smirked. “That’s the idea.”
“Not too shabby for a white boy,” Fitz said, laughter in his bass voice as he joined me at our spot on the bench.
Holding up my fist for his, I said, “No way could I let that massive hole you blew in their line go to waste. Thanks, man.”
“Can’t help but wonder if that play had anything to do with a purple-haired hottie we all noticed sitting in the student section.” His brow shot up in challenge.
